A cross-party group including several Labor MPs is calling on Anthony Albanese's government to grasp the nettle on tricky whistleblower reforms.
Dozens of whistleblowers, their advocates and regulators gathered in Sydney on Monday to discuss - and lament - the state of public interest disclosure laws in Australia.
The government is consulting on tax and corporate whistleblowing rules after a spate of high-profile incidents, including KPMG's privacy breaches to win audit contracts.
Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino has flagged the possibility of an incentive scheme for whistleblowers who expose tax avoidance, as championed by the Human Rights Law Centre.
However, whistleblowers reform has seemingly fallen down the government's pecking order and the consultation will not consider an overarching protection authority.
Dr Mulino saluted the "courage" of whistleblowers and stressed the importance of reform but said writing up other laws was taking priority.
"We are facing drafting constraints, which is a reflection of a full agenda," he said.
Wentworth MP Allegra Spender, who has championed whistleblowers during her time in parliament, said reform couldn't wait.
"I've heard too much from the government 'oh we don't have enough drafters' ... I mean honestly," she said.
Coalition senator Paul Scarr, appearing at the symposium alongside Ms Spender, interjected to say," I'll sign up, I'll do it as a night job".
The Queensland senator is one of several parliamentarians - including...
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